A Challenging Life
My Life Today, p. 92
God Permits Trial and Affliction to
Purify Me
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Mal. 3:2, 3A refining, purifying process is going on among the people of God, and the Lord of hosts has set His hand to this work. This process is most trying to the soul, but it is necessary in order that defilement may be removed. Trials are essential in order that we may be brought close to our heavenly Father, in submission to His will, that we may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. . . . The Lord brings His children over the same ground again and again, increasing the pressure until perfect humility fills the mind, and the character is transformed; then they are victorious over self, and in harmony with Christ and the Spirit of heaven. The purification of God's people cannot be accomplished without suffering. . . . He passes us from one fire to another, testing our true worth. True grace is willing to be tried. IF WE ARE LOATH TO BE SEARCHED BY THE LORD, OUR CONDITION IS ONE OF PERIL. . . .
It is in mercy that the Lord reveals to men their hidden defects. He would have them critically examine the complicated emotions and motives of their own hearts, and detect that which is wrong, and modify their dispositions and refine their manners. God would have His servants become acquainted with their own hearts. In order to bring to them a true knowledge of their condition, He permits the fire of affliction to assail them, so that they may be purified. The trials of life are God's workmen to remove the impurities, infirmities, and roughness from our characters, and fit them for the society of pure, heavenly angels in glory. . . . THE FIRE WILL NOT CONSUME US, BUT ONLY REMOVE THE DROSS, AND WE SHALL COME FORTH SEVEN TIMES PURIFIED, BEARING THE IMPRESS OF THE DIVINE.
. . . TRIALS ARE CHRIST'S WORKMEN
to perfect in us the Christian graces, and these tests are not to sink
the believer's faith, but raise it equal to the occasion, that unto
all it may appear more precious than gold that perisheth, tho it be tried
by fire. EVERY TRIAL IS DESIGNED TO EXALT THE TRUTH TO A HIGHER
APPRECIATION, that praise to God alone may be upon the lips of the true
disciple. And the growth in grace is to the honor and glory of God
at the appearing of Jesus Christ, "whom having not seen, ye love; in whom,
tho now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable
and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation
of your souls."
The opposition we meet may prove a benefit
to us in many ways. IF IT IS WELL BORNE, IT WILL DEVELOP VIRTUES WHICH
WOULD NEVER HAVE APPEARED IF THE CHRISTIAN HAD NOTHING TO ENDURE. And
faith, patience, forbearance, heavenly mindedness, trust in Providence,
and genuine sympathy with the erring, are the results of trial well borne.
THESE ARE THE GRACES OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH BUD, BLOSSOM, AND BEAR
FRUIT AMID TRIALS AND ADVERSITY. Meekness, humility, and love always
grow on the Christian tree. If the word is received into good and honest
hearts, the obdurate soul will be subdued, and faith, grasping the promises,
and relying upon Jesus, will prove triumphant. "This is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our faith."
. . . This is the process, the refining,
purifying process, which is to be carried on by the Lord of hosts. The
work is most trying to the soul, but it is only through this process
that the rubbish and defiling impurities can be removed. Our trials
are all necessary to bring us close to our heavenly Father, in obedience
to His will, that we may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.
. . . You each need a new and living experience in the divine life in order
to do the will of God. No amount of past experience will suffice for
the present nor strengthen us to overcome the difficulties in our path.
We must have new grace and fresh strength daily in order to be victorious.
THROUGH CONFLICT THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
IS STRENGTHENED. Trials well borne will develop steadfastness of character
and precious spiritual graces. The perfect fruit of faith, meekness,
and love often matures best amid storm clouds and darkness.
We know that as trials press closer and
closer, THE HOPE GROWS STRONGER. The beams of the Sun of Righteousness
shall shine into your heart with their healing power. Look beyond the clouds
to the brightness, even the light of the Sun of Righteousness. Thank
God that in the tempest of trial the anchor holds. We have an ever-living,
ever-prevailing Intercessor, who is pleading our individual cases before
the Father. The joys of an eternal reward have been purchased at an infinite
cost.
IF WE OVERCOME OUR TRIALS, and obtain
victory over the temptations of Satan, then we endure the trial of our
faith, which is much more precious than gold, and ARE STRONGER, AND
BETTER PREPARED TO MEET THE NEXT. But if we sink down, and give way
to the temptations of Satan, we get no reward for the trial, and shall
not be so well prepared for the next. In this way we shall grow weaker,
and weaker, until we are led captive by Satan at his will. When temptations
and trials rush in upon us, let us go to God, and agonize with
him in prayer. He will give us grace and strength to overcome,
and break the power of the enemy.
The worker who knows the meaning of union
with Christ, has a constantly increasing desire and capacity to grasp the
meaning of service for God. His knowledge enlarges; for to grow in grace
means to have an increased ability to understand the Scriptures. Such a
one is indeed a laborer together with God. He realizes that he is but
an instrument, and that he must be passive in the Master's hands. TRIALS
COME TO HIM; FOR UNLESS THUS TESTED, HE WOULD NEVER KNOW HIS LACK OF WISDOM
AND EXPERIENCE. But if he seeks the Lord with humility and trust,
EVERY
TRIAL WILL WORK FOR HIS GOOD. He may sometimes seem to fail, but his
apparent failure may be God's way of bringing him true advancement, and
may mean a better knowledge of himself and a firmer trust in Heaven. He
may still make mistakes, but he learns not to repeat these mistakes. He
becomes stronger to resist evil, and others reap benefit from his example.
Gold of Faith Imperishable.--It
makes every difference what material is used in the character building.
The long-expected day of God will soon test every man's work. "The fire
shall try every man's work of what sort it is." As fire reveals the difference
between gold, silver, and precious stones, and wood, hay, and stubble,
so the day of judgment will test characters, showing the difference between
characters formed after Christ's likeness and characters formed after the
likeness of the selfish heart. All selfishness, all false religion, will
then appear as it is. The worthless material will be consumed; but THE
GOLD OF TRUE, SIMPLE, HUMBLE FAITH WILL NEVER LOSE ITS VALUE. It can
never be consumed; for it is imperishable. One hour of transgression will
be seen to be a great loss, while the fear of the Lord will be seen to
be the beginning of wisdom. The pleasure of self-indulgence will perish
as stubble, while THE GOLD OF STEADFAST PRINCIPLE, MAINTAINED AT ANY
COST, WILL ENDURE FOREVER (RH Dec. 11, 1900).
We have each an individual responsibility.
No friend or neighbor can be a criterion for us. Jesus is the only safe
pattern. Have you not, my sisters, given to the world a wrong example in
your dress and in your selfish indulgence? Will you not have to render
an account to God for the influence you have exerted in favor of needless
adornment and display? Our faith must be tested in this world. Christ overcame
in our behalf, and thus made it possible for us also to overcome. We
must endure trial and temptation here, and then, if faithful, we shall
receive the crown. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when
he is tried, he shall receive a crown of life." We shall be exposed
to manifold temptations, but these, if rightly borne, will refine and purify
us, even as gold is purified in the fire. Yet when exposed to the allurements
of the world, that which we had thought to be gold, proves to be but dross.
Our Redeemer sees the situation, and he counsels all to buy of him gold
tried in the fire; which is true faith and genuine love, the grace
that will not be destroyed by fierce temptations.
In the religious life of every soul
who is finally victorious there will be scenes of terrible perplexity and
trial; but his knowledge of the Scriptures will enable him to bring
to mind the encouraging promises of God, which will comfort his heart and
strengthen his faith in the power of the Mighty One. He reads: "Cast not
away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward;"
"that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen,
ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice
with joy unspeakable and full of glory." The trial of faith is more
precious than gold. All should learn that this is a part of the discipline
in the school of Christ, which is essential to purify and refine them
from the dross of earthliness. They must endure with fortitude the
taunts and attacks of enemies, and overcome all obstacles that Satan may
place in their path to hedge up the way. He will try to lead them to
neglect prayer and to discourage them in the study of the Scriptures,
and he will throw his hateful shadow athwart their path to hide Christ
and the heavenly attractions from their view.
TWO LESSONS --If the soul is to
be purified and ennobled, and made fit for the heavenly courts, there are
TWO
LESSONS to be learned-- SELF-SACRIFICE and SELF-CONTROL.
Some learn these important lessons more easily than do others, for they
are exercised by the simple discipline the Lord gives them in gentleness
and love. Others require the slow discipline of suffering, that
the cleansing fire may purify their hearts of pride and self-reliance,
of earthly passion and self-love, that the true gold of character may
appear and that they may become victors through the grace of Christ.
True grace is willing to be tried;
if we are loath to be searched by the Lord, our condition is serious indeed.
God is the refiner and purifier of souls; in the heat of the furnace
the dross is separated FOREVER from the true silver and gold of
the Christian character. Jesus watches the test. He knows what is needed
to purify the precious metal that it may reflect the radiance of His divine
love.
. . . Those who are living upon the earth
when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are
to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes
MUST be spotless, their characters MUST be purified from sin
by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent
effort they MUST be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the
investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent
believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special
work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth.
This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.
I saw that angels of God were looking sorrowfully
toward you. They had left your side and were turning mournfully away, while
Satan and his angels were grinning in exultation over you. If you had
yourself battled with your doubts and not encouraged the devil to tempt
you, by talking out your unbelief and loving to dwell upon it, you would
not have attracted the fallen angels about you in such numbers. But
you chose to talk your darkness; you chose to dwell upon it; and the
more you talk and dwell upon it, the darker and darker you grow. You
are shutting out from you every ray of heaven's light; and a great gulf
is coming between you and the only ones who can help you. If you proceed
in the way you have started, misery and woe are before you. God's hand
will arrest you in a manner that will not suit you. His wrath will not
slumber. But now He invites you. Now, just now, He calls upon you to return
unto Him without delay, and He will graciously pardon and heal all your
backslidings. God is leading out a people who are peculiar. He will
cleanse and purify them, and fit them for translation. Every carnal
thing will be separated from God's peculiar treasures until they shall
be like gold seven times purified.
GOD HAS ALWAYS TRIED HIS PEOPLE IN THE
FURNACE OF AFFLICTION. It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross
is separated from the true gold of the Christian character. Jesus watches
the test; He knows what is needed to purify the precious metal, that it
may reflect the radiance of His love. IT IS BY CLOSE, TESTING TRIALS THAT
GOD DISCIPLINES HIS SERVANTS. He sees that some have powers which may be
used in the advancement of His work, and He puts these persons upon
trial; in His providence He brings them into positions that test
their character and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden
from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these
defects and to fit themselves for His service. He shows them their own
weakness, and teaches them to lean upon Him; for He is their only help
and safeguard. Thus His object is attained. They are educated, trained,
and disciplined, prepared to fulfill the grand purpose for which their
powers were given them. When God calls them to action, they are ready,
and heavenly angels can unite with them in the work to be accomplished
on the earth.
He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Mal. 3:3.
The refining process is hard for human nature to endure; but only by it can the dross be purged from the character. In the furnace of trial we are purified from the dross that prevents us from reflecting the image of Christ. God measures every trial; He watches the furnace fire that must test every soul.
Through trial God leads His children to perfect trust. "In the world ye shall have tribulation," Christ says; "but in Me ye shall have peace." It is through much tribulation, that we are to enter the kingdom of God. . . .
NO CROSS, NO CROWN. How can we be strong in the Lord without trial? To have physical strength, we must have exercise. TO HAVE STRONG FAITH, WE MUST BE PLACED IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE OUR FAITH WILL BE TRIED. Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience, and advances us in the work of character building. Our Saviour was tried in every way, yet He triumphed in God constantly. It is our privilege under all circumstances to be strong in the strength of God, and to glory in the cross of Christ.
Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults. Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us, and the test comes, whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. When brought into trial, we are not to fret and worry. We should NOT REBEL, or WORRY OURSELVES OUT OF THE HAND OF CHRIST. We are to humble the soul before God.
The ways of the Lord are obscure to him who desires to see things in a light pleasing to himself. They appear dark and joyless to our human nature. But God's ways are ways of mercy and the end is salvation.
Elijah knew not what he was doing when in the desert he said that he had had enough of life, and prayed that he might die. The Lord in His mercy did not take him at His word. There was yet a great work for Elijah to do; and when his work was done, he was not to perish in discouragement and solitude in the wilderness. Not for him the descent into the dust of earth, but the ascent in glory, with the convoy of celestial chariots to the throne on high. . . .
"Happy is the man whom God correcteth.
. . . He maketh sore, and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole."
. . . To every stricken one, Jesus comes with the ministry of healing.
The life of bereavement, pain, and suffering may be brightened by precious
revealings of His presence.-- Signs of the Times, Feb. 5, 1902.